After being stretched to their limits, the four young Forest Guard recruits--Johnis, Silvie, Billos, and Darsal--are pulled into deeper danger on their mission to secure the seven lost Books of History. Celebrated as a hero, Johnis's world is shattered when he learns that his mother may not be dead as presumed but could be living as a slave to the Horde. Throwing caution to the wind, he rushes to her rescue.

But this is precisely what the Horde has planned. Now he will face a choice between Silvie, whom he is quickly falling for, and his sworn duty to protect the Forest Dwellers. How can he save those he loves without betraying his own people?

In the end, one will be revealed as the Infidel. And nothing will be the same for the remaining Chosen.

Product Description

About the Author

Ted Dekker is the New York Times best-selling author of more than 25 novels. He is known for stories that combine adrenaline-laced plots with incredible confrontations between good and evil. He lives in Texas with his wife and children. Twitter @TedDekker, facebook.com/#!/teddekker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)

Amazon.com:
66 reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

Another Remarkable StoryDec 6 2007

By
Jake
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover
Verified Purchase

Johnis, Silvie, Darsal, and Billos continue on their quest in this second installment of Ted Dekker's Circle Series. Having just helped the Forest Guard thwart a major Horde attack, they now find themselves settling into their new leadership roles. Johnis soon learns that his missing mother might be living as a prisoner among the Horde. Despite his promise to seek out the hidden Books of History, Johnis decides to follow his heart back into danger and find a way to save his mother. Soon Johnis and Silvie embark on a dangerous mission that may just put the future of Elyon's followers in jeopardy.

Ted Dekker has crafted another remarkable story full of heart, suspense, and action. Infidel takes us deeper inside the veiled world of the Horde, and what Johnis and company discover about their enemies is surprising and eye-opening. At its core, this is a story about compassion, acceptance, and honor. The insights into humanity that Johnis experiences are compelling and his inner battle of duty vs. compassion is incredibly captivating.

Dekker is known for plots full of unexpected twists and turns, and his hard core fans will not be disappointed. Infidel is full of fascinating characters, beautiful and vivid landscapes, and gut wrenching battles. However, Dekker's major strength is clearly found in his ability to persistently entertain on a high level while causing readers to think and question. This new young adult series is a fresh and exciting addition to the world of Ted Dekker.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

Oh, the PossibilitesFeb. 3 2008

By
Eric Wilson
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

Dekker's sense of pacing is never clearer than in the Lost Books. He has taken the Other World that was explored in the Circle Trilogy and turned it into the setting for continued cataclysmic conflicts between good and evil, between the Forest Guard and the Horde.

"Chosen" left us with a solid ending and a defined objective for the main characters. "Infidel" picks up right where the other left off, but Dekker leaves us little time for catching our breath. Johnis, the central character of the first book, is once again on a mission--an ill-advised trek that will land him in a heap of trouble. Followed by Silvie, he endangers lives and loses all that he has obtained in a quest to rescue his mother, whom he believes to be alive.

Despite the meager map details on the book's inside cover, "Infidel" leads us into a world that is well thought out and that parallels our own. Dekker has imbued these settings with detail and symbolic depth, and he challenges us to love even those we find abhorrent. Johnis is a rich character, with believable conflicts and transformations. The book's message of Christ-like love is clear, while never being preachy.

One or two of the scenes near the end seemed a bit convenient, but overall the pace and action never flags, and I look forward to continuing this great series. The book ends with a perfect jumping off point into further adventures, raising the stakes, the conflict, and the possibilities.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

Great addition to the Circle SeriesApril 10 2011

By
Mathachew
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

Below is an excerpt of my full review of The Lost Books Series:

I read all six books in just over a week's time as it continued to suck me in just as The Circle Series had. There were times that it was a challenge to put the book down. I even lost sleep reading this books late into the night. Much like The Circle Series, these book built off the previous one and the story become more engrossing as it progressed further. The connections between Green and this series are finally made clear. Where Ba'al (Billos) came from, how he knew so much about the Books of History, what he was talking about when he described going into another world, what became of the book Thomas Hunter brought with him in White, and how Billy could have gotten his hands on one of the Books of History that gave him telepathic powers. I am sure that there were other connections as well, but I do not recall all of them. In the end, only one chosen youth did not finish the quest while the other three were able to gather all seven books in the past (our not so distant future of 2033). Very enjoyable and satisfactory.

If you enjoyed the Circle Series, this series is a great addition to a fantasy world that delivered a great story. Unless you really feel inclined, I strongly suggest skipping books five and six. The quality is sub-par and you can almost see where Ted Dekker's influence stops and Kaci Hill's begins. The series, as a whole, suffers because of Lunatic and Elyon. Separate, however, the first four books are superb. The last two books They were close to awful and should be purged from Ted Dekker fantasy lore.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Solid second book in the series....July 30 2009

By
Deborah Wiley
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Hardcover

A world exists where Forest Dwellers and the Horde battle one another. Bathing is a nathema to the Horde, who follow the Dark Priest and his minions. Four teenagers have been selected to join the Forest Guard- Johnis, Silvie, Darsal, and Billos- but their battle is only just beginning....

Johnis, Silvie, Darsal, and Billos should be savoring their survival from the Horde but instead Johnis is worrying about his mother. Does the ring signify his mother is still alive and now one of the Scabs? Against all logic, reasoning, and advice, Johnis sets off to rescue his mother. Will he jeopardize everything, including their quest for The Lost Books?

INFIDEL is the second book in this fascinating young adult fantasy series. Readers will best appreciate the storyline after reading the first book, CHOSEN, as the relationships and the quest for the books are part of the ongoing threads in the series. Fans of Ted Dekker's Circle Trilogy will note the parallels to that series as well although it is not necessary to read it to enjoy INFIDEL.

I have to admit that Johnis irritated me on quite a few occasions in INFIDEL. In fact, I was starting to wonder if perhaps the beauty of the series was being lost... and then we meet Karas. The story of this one Horde girl is both touching and thought provoking. By the conclusion of INFIDEL, I was more than convinced of both the brilliance of Ted Dekker as an author and of the beauty of the Christian themes woven into the tale. Through the storyline's twists, we see the power of love, both in its ability to weaken and its ability to strengthen. Sheer genius!

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

I enjoyed it overallMarch 1 2011

By
Novel Teen
- Published on Amazon.com

Format: Paperback

Johnis knows better than to mess with the Books of History--even the roush tells him not to--but he wants to know where his mother is more than anything and the books are his only hope. When he discovers that she's being held in Horde City, he tricks one of Thomas Hunter's armies to help him. But it was a trap. Now he must choose between Silvie and his mother, or the Forest Dwellers. And as usual, Johnis will follow his heart.

This is book two of Ted Dekker's Lost Books series, a young adult spin-off from his Circle series. I enjoyed it overall. It gives us plenty of action and intrigue, and reveals more details from Dekker's mystery of how the Lost Books work. Johnis' character annoyed me for the first part of the story, but I loved little Karas. Things were a bit predictable at times, yet the story worked out to an entertaining finish, complete with a cliffhanger for book three. If you loved the Circle series, these books will entertain.